Aubela’s don’t Make Apple Pie

Each year my elementary school put out a cookbook. It was a compilation of recipes submitted by students. Many of them were family recipes, family traditions, family secrets, and grandma’s hand-me-downs. Like all collective cookbooks, the bread and dessert sections were grossly disproportionate to the others, which is solid proof that they teach extensive curriculum in the art of “pie and banana bread”at Grandma School.

I don’t have a grandma, I have an Abuela. Abuela’s are different. Very different. They make things like ropa vieja, carne con papas, and chicken noodle soup that you can eat with a fork. They scoff at canned beans and they do not bake, at least not to my knowledge. I used to sit and watch my Abuela and bisabuela (great grandma) cook for hours, it’s how I learned to cook. To date, I have never seen either lift a measuring spoon or make pie.

Because I have an Abuela, I didn’t genetically inherit the skill of pie making. And since I have yet to go to Grandma School, I had to resort to someone else’s grandma. This grandma was valedictorian.

It’s easy as pie. That’s a saying, right? Start off by melting the butter in a saucepan. Stir in the flour to form a paste. Add water, white sugar, and brown sugar, and bring to a boil. Turn the temperature down and simmer.

Rinse, peel, core, and slice the apples.

Next, crust. Seriously, if you want to make your own crust you probably could totally do it in less than a few hours, without breaking a spoon, if you’re using a large food processor. Of course you wouldn’t use a blender, it’s not the same thing, who would do that? Not me. Save the spoon, use Trader Joes or Pillsbury. Place it in your pie dish and fill it with apples.

Excuse the lattice work, I don’t have a grandma. Drizzle your sauce on top and cover with your lattice. If you’re cooking with your kids, let them use cookie cutters and decorate the pie. It’s the perfect excuse for terrible lattice work.

Bake for 15 minutes at 425 then reduce to 350 and continue to bake for 35 to 45 minutes.

This pie is likely a perfect way to help your kiddo feel like they’ve taken a part in prepping for thanksgiving. Comment below to let us know which recipe your grandma is known for!